Well pressure control apparatus



Oct. 6, 1964 w. E. PARKHURST ETAL WELL PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1961 Surface of land or floor of oceanINVENTORY WARREN E. PARKHURST BY CASSIUS L.T|LLMAN III ATTORNEY Oct. 6,1964 w. E. PARKHURST ETAL 3,151,630

WELL PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1961 amIn!!! E P? INVENTORS WARREN E. PARKHURST BY cAsslus L.TILLMAN m ATTORNEY3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 9 5 5 0% Y 2 n WM w 8 WKL R v m E v mm 0/ RS Rm A 0 mwe W W. E. PARKHURST ETAL WELL PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15,1961 FIG.

United States Patent 3 151 680 WELL PRESSURECGI ITROL APPARATUS WarrenE. Parlrhurst, 2510 Bristol Place, New Orleans, La., and Cassius L.Tillman III, Peters Road, Harvey,

Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,576 4 Claims. (Cl. 166-89) Thisinvention relates to oil and gas wells and it is more particularlyconcerned with improvements in control apparatus and the installationthereof.

An object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which canbe installed under conditions that are ordinarily diflicult, impracticalor impossible, due to adverse natural causes, such as in deep water orother technical difficulties.

Another object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the steps andtime required in carrying out installations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improvementsin well apparatus which result in substantial reductions of spacerequired for a complete well control system.

These and still further objects, advantages and features of theinvention will appear more fully from the following description inconjunction with the accompanying drawing showing embodiments of theinvention by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an assembled well control systemin accordance with an embodiment of the invention generally along theline 1-1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of the principal parts of theembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the upper hanger.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view or" the upper hanger.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the bottom hanger.

PEG. 7 is a sectional view along the line 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line 88 of FIG. 9' of a modifiedform of hold down ring, a fragmentary portion of the upper hanger beingshown therewith.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan sectional View along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary part of the upper right hand portion of FIG. 8modified to illustrate insertion of the duct plug through the valve toblocking flow of fluid to the duct and allow the valve to be changedwhile the duct is under pressure.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numeralsdesignate like parts the invention is illustrated in connection with aconventional outer or surface casing tubing 3! set in the ground in theconventional manner and inner casing tubing 31 within the outer casingtubing 38. The inner casing tubing string is supported by means of atubular hanger 32 disposed in the lower part of a hollow center sectionor bowl 33 of a casing head or body 34 mounted on the upper end of theouter casing tubing 3%). Inner threads 35 of a dependent flange 36 atthe bottom of the body 34 engage external threads 37 of the casing 30.

Above the threads 35 the hollow portion of the body 34 is somewhatrestricted to provide an annular upwardly facing shoulder 38 to engage acorrespondingly downwardly facing annular shoulder 39 of the hanger 32.The outer surface of the hanger 32 above the shoulder 39 is enlarged anddownwardly tapered to register with the adjacent. correspondingly shapedsurface of the bowl 33.

3,151,680 Patented Oct. 6, 1964 An annulus 40 of the hanger 32 projectsdownwardly within the dependent flange 36 and is recessed to provide anannular space 41 between it and the flange. The annulus 40 has interiorthreads 42 which engage exterior threads 43 of the casing tubing 31. Theupper portion of the hanger 32 above the threads 42 is also providedwith threads 44 separated from the threads 43 by a median section 45.These upper threads are for the purpose of temporarily engaging thelower end of a pipe (not shown) to facilitate setting the hanger inplace after which lock screws 47 are engaged and the pipe is re moved.

The wall of the hanger 32 is provided with a series of circumferentiallyspaced ducts 46 each extending diagonally downward from a point adjacentthe inner rim of the wall to the outer edge at the bottom, substantiallyas shown. Other functionally equivalent positions, however, may be usedfor the ducts.

The hanger 32 is held in seated position by means of a group ofcircumferentially spaced lock screws 47 that pass through lateralapertures 48 in the body 34. These lock screws have a conical point attheir inner ends and are adapted to engage an annular V-shaped groove 49on the periphery of the hanger 32 whereby the hanger is wedged intoposition against high pressure gaskets 5%) set in grooves of the hangerto effect a high pressure fluid seal. The lock screws are sealed fromfluid leakage after they are set in position by means of conventionalglands at the ends of the stems thereof comprising gland packing 51 andgland nuts 52.

An annular groove 53 is provided in the body 34 adjacent the lower endsof the ducts 46 as a discharge manifold. One or more dischargeapertures, such as the aperture 54 is provided through the wall of thebody 34 in communication with the groove 53. The outer portion 55 of theaperture 54 is enlarged and provided with threads to engage a dischargecontrol valve 56.

Another opening 57 is provided in the body 34 in communication with theannular space 41, an outer portion 58 being enlarged and threaded toreceive a valve 59 for the control of material flowing between thecasings 36 and 31.

A second hanger 66 is disposed in the upper part of the bowl 33 of thebody 34 directly on top of the hanger 32. It is provided with an axialbore 61, the lower end of which contains threads 62 to engage thethreads 63 at the upper end of the well tubing 64. The upper end of thebore 61 is provided with a separate threaded section 65 to engagetemporarily a threaded stem or pipe (not shown) during manipulationthereof to set the hanger in place after which the stem or pipe isremoved. A third set of threads 61A is provided for the installation ofa duct plug or similar device to control pressure in the tubing prior toinstallation of the valve 71. This plug may be removed through the ductof the valve 71. The hanger 66 is held in place by lock screws 66engaging a circumferential V-groove 67 similar to the lock screws 47.High pressure sealing gaskets 68 are provided in grooves of the hanger60 adjacent the body substantially as shown.

The bottom of the hanger 69 is provided with an annular recess 69 incommunication with the upper ends of the ducts 46 and forming an uppermanifold therefor. The recess 69 extends inwardly over the space betweenthe inner casing tubing 31 and the well tubing 64.

Secured directly to the top of the hanger 60 by stud bolts 70 is aconventional outlet control valve 71 for the well in communication withthe axial bore 61. A

conventional sealing ring 72 .between the valve and hanger moved and itserves to retain the hangers 32 and 60 in place against the force of anythrust tending to displace them upwardly relative to the body 34. Theseals protect contact surfaces against atmospheric corrosion.

A modified hold down element is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10. Itcomprises a flat cylindrical holding block 78 provided with an axialvertical bore 79 and radial inner ducts or passages 80 extendingoutwardly from the'bore.

7 to valves 81 set in the block. From the valves 81 the ducts extend tothe periphery of the block and are provided at this, point with threads82 for attaching outlet ipes 83 thatmay lead to, for example, an oilstorage or other facility (not shown). M

' The ducts 80 are each provided with a threaded section 84 between thebore 79 and its corresponding valve 'tional auxiliary control equipment(not shown) is re- 81 for the reception of a plug 85 (see FIG. 10) forthe purpose of blocking one of the ducts for emergency purposes such aswhere it may be necessary to eflect repairs, adjustment, installationchanges, etc., without interrupting the flow from the well through theother ducts.

, The block 78 is secured in position to the body 34 by means of bolts86and sealing rings 87 are provided therebetween in mating grooves asshown. l

The actual construction of the well and casing placement prior to thesetting of the hangers requires that the casing and tubing strings bepassed downwardly through i i the body 34.

After the inner casing 31 has been installed the hanger 32 is connectedto the upper end thereof and lowered into position in the bowl of thebody 34.. The process of cementing the inner casing string may thenproceed. After this cementing process is completed the landing joint isthen backed out of the hanger 32 and the Well is then ready forcompletion.

At this point, in a normal completion, according to conventionalpractice in the art, the auxiliary equipment is removed and anadditional tubing head spool (not shown) is landed and attached to thepermanent control equipment then in place. This spool then becomes apermanent part of the well control equipment. Then a new set ofauxiliary control equipment is installed. This is all being accomplishedduring a period called waiting on cement which means waiting for thecement which has been pumped into annular space 111 between the openhole and the inner casing 31 to develop sufiicient strength to resistthe stress which necessarily must be imparted to the inner casing inorder to suspend this casingin a normal slip type casing hanger.

' By virtue of the present invention this waiting time can be put tomore profitable use since the inner casing 31 has already beenpermanently set and there is no need to remove the original auxiliarycontrol equipment because all future elements of the completion willpass through the bore of the auxiliary control equipment. This waitingtime can, therefore, be used to advantage by employing it to completethe well by picking up and making up the tubing stands and downholeequipment long with setting up the casing perforating equipment for theopening of the inner casing 31 opposite the producing formation.Normally, this would not take up the whole waiting on cement time.Accordingly, further benefits of the present invention can be derived byimmediately backing out the landing joint from the inner casing hanger32, running a wire line and weight into the hole to determine the depthof the plug and whether the bottom of the hole is at a proper depth. Thetubing hanger 60 is then attached to the top of the corresponding tubingand if it is desired to save additional time the upper section can beinstalled at this time and the assembly lowered to its position in thebody 34. At this point the tubing hanger will not yet have been lockedin place but the perforating operation can be carried out after whichthe perforating equipment is removed and a check valve installed in thetubing hanger threaded opening 61A. The tubing and hanger 60 may then belifted sufiiciently to open a circulation joint downhole and the Wellwashed in. The tubing hanger 66 can then be lowered again into positionand locked in place with the lock screws 66. The auxiliary controlequipment is then removed and the holddown ring 73 installed or, ifdesired, the control valves 71 may be omitted and after removal of theauxiliary control equipment, a modified holddown ring, as shown in FIG.8, may be installed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a well having outer casing, inner casing and well tubing,apparatus comprising a body member adapted to be attached to andsupported on the upper end of the outer casing, said body member havinga vertical opening axially therethrough, said opening having an upwardlyfacing shoulder between a relatively enlarged upper'bowl portion and arestricted lower portion thereof, a first hanger for the inner casingdisposed in the bottom of said bowl portion, said hanger having anintegral annulus projecting from its bottom into the said lower portionfor attaching the upper end of the inner casing thereto, said annulusbeing spaced from the body to form an annular opening therebetweenin'comrnunication with the space between the inner and outer casing,said hanger having a vertical axial opening therethrough threaded ateither end, a second hanger for the well tubing in the said bowl portionabove said first hanger, said second hanger having a vertical openingtherethrough threaded at either end; means removably securing saidhangers to said body; high pressure fluid sealing means between saidbody and hangers; said first hanger. having a plurality P of ductsextending from the top thereof to said shoulder;

said first hanger and said shoulder having a channel therebetweenforming a bottom manifold for said ducts; said hangers having an annularchannel therebetween at the upper ends of the ducts forming a topmanifold for'said ducts; said last mentioned channel being incommunication with the axial opening in said first tubing'hanger; saidbody having passageways therethrough extending to its exteriorcommunicating with said top manifold and with saidannular opening,respectively; and control'valves connected to said passageways.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 and a holding ring superposed on saidbody, said ring being rigidly secured to the body and having an inneredge overlying a marginal portion of the upper hanger, fluid sealsbetween said ring and body and separate fluid seals between said inneredge and marginal portion. V l 3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 and aholding block superposed on the body and hangers, said block having avertical central Opening axially therethrough in communication with theopening in the adjacent hanger, sealing means between said block and itsadjacent hanger and separate sealing means between the block and thebody, said block having lateral radial passages textending outwardlyfrom said central opening, valves in said passageways, said passagcwayshaving threaded portions adjacent the valves and threaded plugs forremovably engaging said threaded portions.

4. Well apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the outer surface ofthe first hanger and the corresponding inner surface of the bowl portiontaper downwardly.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor June 1, 1926 McEvoy Mar. 15, 1932Wig1e 1- June 21, 1932 Howard Mar. 21, 1933 Hild Mar. 24, 1936 6McDonough et a1 May 24, 1938 Lemley Feb. 21, 1939 Tania Feb. 5, 1957Rhodes Apr. 15, 1958 Myers Mar. 17, 1959 Gould June 9, 1959 Prince Nov.29, 1960

1. IN A WELL HAVING OUTER CASING, INNER CASING AND WELL TUBING,APPARATUS COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO ANDSUPPORTED ON THE UPPER END OF THE OUTER CASING, SAID BODY MEMBER HAVINGA VERTICAL OPENING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH, SAID OPENING HAVING AN UPWARDLYFACING SHOULDER BETWEEN A RELATIVELY ENLARGED UPPER BOWL PORTION AND ARESTRICTED LOWER PORTION THEREOF, A FIRST HANGER FOR THE INNER CASINGDISPOSED IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOWL PORTION, SAID HANGER HAVING ANINTEGRAL ANNULUS PROJECTING FROM ITS BOTTOM INTO THE SAID LOWER PORTIONFOR ATTACHING THE UPPER END OF THE INNER CASING THERETO, SAID ANNULUSBEING SPACED FROM THE BODY TO FORM AN ANNULAR OPENING THEREBETWEEN INCOMMUNICATION WITH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER CASING, SAIDHANGER HAVING A VERTICAL AXIAL OPENING THERETHROUGH THREADED AT EITHEREND, A SECOND HANGER FOR THE WELL TUBING IN THE SAID BOWL PORTION ABOVESAID FIRST HANGER, SAID SECOND HANGER HAVING A VERTICAL OPENINGTHERETHROUGH THREADED AT EITHER END; MEANS REMOVABLY SECURING SAIDHANGERS TO SAID BODY; HIGH PRESSURE FLUID SEALING MEANS BETWEEN SAIDBODY AND HANGERS; SAID FIRST HANGER HAVING A PLURALITY OF DUCTSEXTENDING FROM THE TOP THEREOF TO SAID SHOULDER; SAID FIRST HANGER ANDSAID SHOULDER HAVING A CHANNEL THEREBETWEEN FORMING A BOTTOM MANIFOLDFOR SAID DUCTS; SAID HANGERS HAVING AN ANNULAR CHANNEL THEREBETWEEN ATTHE UPPER ENDS OF THE DUCTS FORMING A TOP MANIFOLD FOR SAID DUCTS; SAIDLAST MENTIONED CHANNEL BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE AXIAL OPENING INSAID FIRST TUBING HANGER; SAID BODY HAVING PASSAGEWAYS THERETHROUGHEXTENDING TO ITS EXTERIOR COMMUNICATING WITH SAID TOP MANIFOLD AND WITHSAID ANNULAR OPENING, RESPECTIVELY; AND CONTROL VALVES CONNECTED TO SAIDPASSAGEWAYS.